Brooklyn-born singer and actor Miles Caton is not a stranger to working with big stars, as he appeared in the video for fellow Brooklynite Jay Z’s “4:44” as a pre-teen. So it should not be surprising that Caton made his film debut in the Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler-led film, “Sinners,” which set the record for most Academy Award nominations last month with an unprecedented sixteen, underscoring “Sinners’” significant cultural impact. Caton spoke to the AmNews about what attracted him to the role, working with the cast, and bringing his vocal skills to the film.
“Definitely the character that I was playing, Sammie, I felt like I related to him a lot, and we both kind of come from the same background, and we both have that same ambition,” Caton responded when asked what attracted him to the film itself and the role specifically. “Sammie’s working towards becoming a musician, kind of living his own life and just doing things outside of what the norm is. So that was definitely something that drew me to the role, and then once I got a chance to read the whole script and see all the elements and how music was so ingrained in the project, I was excited to be a part.”
Working with the cast was an incredible experience for Caton. “I mean, you got Delroy Lindo, Omar [Miller], these are people that I grew up watching, and to be able to work with Mike [B. Jordan] was really inspiring, man,” he shared. “Every day on set was the chance to learn something new and to see the work ethic up close and see how certain things get done. So it was an honor.”
The talented performer, who will turn 21 in early March, described working with the cast and creative as a crash course.
“Just to be able to work with all those great people at once, you’re learning so much at once,” he expressed, and singled out two of the Oscar nominees. “You see Ruth [Carter, a two-time Academy Award winner] and her dope vision for the clothes, and you have Delroy [Lindo], who’s really a master at the craft. Getting to see his process on set day-to-day, how he prepares for his scenes.”
Caton also shared that the musical aspect of his character, specifically, and of the film in general, was definitely one of the main factors in his involvement. For Caton, the opportunity to blend his passion for acting with his lifelong love of music marked a significant turning point in his career, allowing him to express a deeper part of his artistic identity.
“Being a musician and being an artist, the music was extremely important and I didn’t expect it, to learn so much more than I already knew coming on this project, learning about the blues and learning where it comes from and how important it is to the culture we are in now,” he shared, “Blues has bred so many new genres: pop, R&B; so to be able to go and have that lesson and gain all of that knowledge, it was dope.”
Finally, Caton discussed working with the Oscar-nominated director and writer, Ryan Coogler.
“Ryan, he’s a huge inspiration, man, one of my favorite directors,” he shared. “I grew up watching ‘Creed’ and ‘Black Panther, so to be able to work with him was really incredible, man. He’s a leader on set; he’s hands-on throughout the whole process. Each scene, he’s there, and he is always there for questions and for support, and just always pushing me to be greater, to take chances. not to be safe. It was dope getting to work with him.”